Do you learn best by listening to your teacher? Or is it better for you to read something yourself? Maybe you just need to try things out to actually learn something. Everyone is different, and if you want to really learn a language, first you have to know what works best for you.
IT TAKES ALL SORTS
Though I can’t believe it, I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years, and I’ve been an English teacher since 2006! I’ve helped hundreds of students improve their English, and they all learn differently.
Some people love homework (believe it or not) and that time alone with the exercises helps them to really understand the language. Some of my students have never done one page of homework, but come to class and soak up the English like a sponge! They listen to the English I teach and then they use it right away, so that it sticks.
As a German student, flashcards really help me and I draw bubble charts and lists because I’m a visual learner. But I’m also a kinesthetic learner, so it is super important for me to get enough speaking practice to actually use the things I learn. If I don’t, they just sit there in my passive knowledge, and I can’t use them when I need them.
FAILURE TO LEARN
Unfortunately, some students learn super slowly, because they don’t know what kind of learner they are. They struggle with exercises, or sit there totally confused by podcasts. They don’t improve because they don’t know what works best for them (and they don’t actually try the different types of homework that I give).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you are a visual learner (you learn with your eyes), you should
- Make clear notes with different coloured pens and drawings
- Make flashcards or use a flashcard app
- Use post-it notes – put them anywhere you will see them and change them often! (I love post-it notes)
If you are an auditory learner (you learn by listening), you should
- Listen to music and podcasts!
- Talk with people about what you learned (or record yourself explaining it)
- Watch TV or Movies (with or without subtitles)
- Find a great teacher!
If you are a kinesthetic learner (you learn by doing things), you should
- Study for short blocks of time and take breaks
- Go on a walk while you review your notes or listen to podcasts
- Role-play situations to use the grammar and vocabulary
If you learn by reading or writing, you should
- Read the book or your notes more than once after the lesson
- Rewrite texts or listening exercises in your own words
- Write sentences using the new vocabulary words or grammar
- Write a summary of what you learned
The first step is to find out what kind of learner you are. Watch this video from Clipboard Classes to figure it out!
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